Startups tips

TravelAI has purchased and relaunched Casai.com, the domain of the short-term rental operator startup that closed last July after raising more than $48 million. 

Guests at a Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills can now access in-room concierge via hologram.

Guesty, the property management platform for short-term rental businesses, said Wednesday that it has raised $130 million in series F funding. 

Southwest Airlines has acquired a startup that makes renewable ethanol, which can be used to make jet fuel. 

Busbud, an online marketplace for intercity bus and train tickets, is expanding its presence in Brazil through the acquisition of Buson. 

Seven travel startups from a variety of sectors have raised over $150 million in the past two weeks.

Culture Trip, the travel media company that raised roughly $155 million, sold its website and group tour business to the U.S. News & World Report.

Finnish short-term rental brand Bob W, raised €40 million ($45 million) in a series B funding round to expand in Europe and enhance its technology.

TravelPerk, a growing business travel agency and software platform, has raised another $104 million. 

Four travel tech startups announced fundraises over the past two weeks totaling more than $15 million.

Tripnotes got a lot of attention in early 2023 as one of the first experimental AI trip planners powered by ChatGPT. 

Travel startups raised at least $3.7 billion in 2023. Skift tracked more than 200 travel startup fundraises through a weekly roundup article, compiled from company announcements and exclusive reporting. 

Seven travel startups have announced fundraises of more than $305 million over the past week.

Klook, an online travel agency for tours and activities, transport, and travel services, said it had raised $210 million (about $290 Singaporean dollars) in capital with a mix of venture equity and bank financing.

Dubai hospitality has always gone for high impact. Whether it’s billion-dollar resorts on man-made islands or luxury hotels colloquially known as seven-star properties, they have served to put the emirate on the global tourism map.

Cabana, a startup platform for booking camper vans as vacation rentals, is seeking buyers to avoid shutting down.  

Misguided stereotypes often define inbound tourism to South Africa. Think: “exotic” safaris with , , or themes — and poverty voyeurism.

Three travel tech startups have announced fundraises this week of more than $57 million.

The shift from desktop to mobile created new winners in various industries. Will the current innovations around artificial intelligence do the same? That’s unlikely, according to Spencer Rascoff, co-founder of Zillow and CEO of 75 & Sunny Ventures.

Hopper, the fast-growing online travel and fintech company, cut 30% of its full-time staff — around 250 employees — in a bid to get profitable, according to a published report.

The travel industry could see a disruption from generative AI sooner rather than later.